Vacuum filling system

Abstract

A filling apparatus 20 includes a filler table structure 22 disposed within a protective and supporting main housing 24. The filler table structure 22 receives and supports containers 26 to be filled with product from filler heads 28 positioned above the filler table structure. The containers 26 to be filled arrive at the filler table structure 22 on infeed conveyances 30 and then are precisely positioned at a filling position beneath the filler heads 28 by indexing systems 32. Thereafter, the filled containers 26 are transferred by the indexing systems 32 to an out feed conveyance 34. Each filler head 28 is capable of cycling at a speed of at least 30 times per minute, whereby the filling station 20 is capable of filling containers 26 at a rate of at least 30 containers per minute per filler head.

1 . A filling station for filling containers of different sizes with product, comprising:
 a replaceable, container size-dependent rotary indexing wheel receiving a container from a receiving conveyance and positioning the container at a fill position for filling the container with product while the container is engaged with the indexing wheel and then after the container has been filled while at the fill position transferring the filled container from the fill position to an outfeed conveyance;   a replaceable, container size-dependent guide guiding the containers from the receiving conveyance into engagement with the rotary indexing wheel and retaining the containers engaged with the rotary indexing wheel during the filling of the container and during transfer of the filled containers to the out-feed conveyor;   a filler head disposed above the fill position in registry with the container at the fill position, the filler head connected to a source of vacuum to remove the air from the container and also including an inlet nozzle for simultaneously delivering product into the evacuated container; and   a control system for controlling and sequencing the operation of the receiving conveyance, the rotary indexing wheel, the filler head, and the outfeed conveyance.   
     
     
         2 . The filling station according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotary wheel defining a plurality of pockets for receiving the containers therein. 
     
     
         3 . The filling station according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide for guiding the containers into the pockets of the rotary wheel retains the containers within the pockets of the rotary wheel. 
     
     
         4 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The filling station according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide is configured for guiding a specific size container and the guide is removably mounted on a base structure for replacement with another guide configured for guiding a different size container. 
     
     
         9 . The filling station according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide structure has an arcuate portion defining a curved abutment edge to engage the exterior of the container. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The filling station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lift platform for supporting a container beneath the filling head during filling of the container, the lifting platform lifting the container upwardly into engagement with the filling head. 
     
     
         13 . The filling station of  claim 12 , further comprising stops for limiting the elevation to which the lifting platform lifts the container to be filled relative to the filling head. 
     
     
         14 . The filling station of  claim 13 , wherein the elevation of the container relative to the filling head controls the amount of product delivered to the container. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The filling station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fill valve located between the source of vacuum and the filler head to connect and disconnect the source of vacuum from the filler head at a rate of at least thirty times per minute. 
     
     
         17 . The filling station according to  claim 16 , wherein the fill valve is actuated by compressed air. 
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The filling station according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler head comprises:
 an inlet nozzle to direct product into the containers to be filled, the inlet nozzle having a lower end engageable within a container to be filled; and   an outlet head is disposed at the lower end of the inlet nozzle, the outlet head having a plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         21 . The filling station according to  claim 20 , wherein the outlet head comprising portions defining an inwardly and downwardly tapering funnel section terminating at an aperture of the outlet head. 
     
     
         22 . The filling station according to  claim 20 , wherein the filler head comprises portions defining an annular cavity surrounding a portion of the nozzle at the location of the nozzle head, the source of vacuum in communication with the annular cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The filling station according to  claim 22 , further comprising a fill valve located between the source of vacuum and the annular cavity to connect and disconnect the source of vacuum from the annular cavity at a rate of at least thirty times per minute. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of filling containers with product using the filling station of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A filling station for filling containers with product, comprising:
 a lift platform for supporting a container during filling;   a rotary indexing system comprising a rotary wheel to receive a container from a receiving conveyance and then to position the container on the lift platform for filling the container with product while the container remains engaged with the rotary wheel and thereafter the rotary wheel transferring the filled container from the lift platform to an outfeed conveyance;   a filler head disposed above the lift platform in registry with the container to be filled;   an actuator lifting the lift platform to engage a container to be filled with the filler head and lowering the lift table to disengage the filled container from the filler head;   the filler head connected to a source of vacuum to remove the air from the container and also including an inlet nozzle for simultaneously delivering product into the evacuated container; and   a control system for controlling and sequencing the operation of the receiving conveyance, the rotary indexing system, the lift platform, the filler head, and the outfeed conveyance.   
     
     
         27 . The filling station according to  claim 26 , wherein the rotary wheel defining a plurality of pockets for receiving the containers therein, and
 wherein the rotary indexing system further comprising a guide for guiding the containers into the pockets of the rotary wheel and retaining the containers within the pockets of the rotary wheel.   
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The filling station according to  claim 27 , wherein the guide is configured for guiding a specific size container and the guide is removably mounted on a base structure for replacement with another guide configured for guiding a different size container. 
     
     
         30 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The filling station according to claim  28 , wherein:
 the guide is configured to match the diameter of the container; and   the filling station further comprising a base structure on which the guide structure is removably mounted and replaceable with a guide to match a container of a different diameter.   
     
     
         38 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The filling station according to  claim 26 , wherein the filler head comprises:
 an inlet nozzle to direct product into the containers to be filled, the inlet nozzle having a lower end engageable within a container to be filled; and   an outlet head is disposed at the lower end of the inlet nozzle, the outlet head having a plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         46 . The filling station according to  claim 45 , wherein the outlet head comprises portions defining an inwardly and downwardly tapering funnel section terminating at an aperture of the outlet head. 
     
     
         47 - 50 . (canceled)